Patriots vs. Jaguars: New England's Biggest Winners and Losers from Week 16

The New England Patriots were caught napping on the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon. The Jags got out to an early 10-0 lead, but the Patriots forged their way back to pull off a 23-16 win.

The Patriots are now 11-4, but their shortcomings could have handed the 2-13 Jaguars their third victory of the year.

It was a mixed bag for New England, who played 60 inconsistent minutes of football. No real momentum ever got going.

With that in mind, it's time to reflect on the Patriots' winners and losers from the tilt at EverBank Field.

Winner: Stevan Ridley

Having fumbled against both the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers over the last two weeks, Stevan Ridley was focused on the task at hand in Jacksonville.

The second-year running back carried the ball 18 times for 84 yards—his highest rushing average since Oct. 28 against the St. Louis Rams. But most importantly, New England's 1,000-yard rusher protected the football versus the Jaguars.

It was fumbling woes that cut Ridley's rookie season short. This season, No. 22 wants a different fate.

Loser: The Offensive Line's Pass Protection

New England's offensive line had a rough go of it against the Jacksonville pass rush.

Heading into the game, the Patriots blockers had allowed just 23 sacks this season. To give that number some weight, 27 teams have allowed more, per ESPN.com.

But the Jaguars defensive front had no problem getting to quarterback Tom Brady. And as a result, Brady was sacked three times and hit nine times.

Seeing as how all five O-line starters are finally healthy, the lack of protection is quite concerning.

Winner: Brandon Lloyd

On four targets in the first half, wideout Brandon Lloyd had zero catches.

In the second half, however, the 10-year pro became a more significant part of the game plan. Tom Brady had his sights set on Lloyd, and the two combined for six completions for 62 yards.

While his performance wasn't off the charts, Lloyd is now just 98 yards away from his second career 1,000-yard season and five catches away from a career high in receptions.

Loser: Tom Brady

Tom Brady was not without miscues against the Jaguars.

Two of the Patriots' first three offensive drives ended in interceptions, and Brady saw several lobbed passes fall incomplete outside the numbers.

During his shaky performance, Brady did something he hasn't done since October of 2011. He managed to throw picks in two consecutive contests.

Brady did heighten his level of play and finished respectably, completing 24 of 41 passes for 267 yards. He tossed two touchdowns and also tied Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas with 47 straight games with a touchdown pass, according to ESPNBoston.com's Field Yates.

It may be unfair to call Brady's performance poor, but it certainly was for his standards. The offense as a whole was stagnant, converting just four of 12 third-down opportunities.

Winner: Danny Woodhead

Danny Woodhead's stat line doesn't light up the box score, but the utility back serves a vital purpose. He snags passes and earns first downs.

Against the Jaguars, the Chadron State product carried the ball three times for seven yards, and also caught two passes for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Yet according to a tweet from Michael Berger of WEEI Sports Radio Network, Woodhead is now special company:

"

Danny Woodhead is the first Patriots RB to have 3 touchdown receptions in a season since Kevin Faulk in 2008.

— Michael Berger (@MichaelSBerger) December 23, 2012

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Loser: The Pass Rush

New England's pass-rushers were kept at bay for the better part of Sunday's tilt against the Jaguars.

Up until the final quarter of play, Jacksonville quarterback Chad Henne had only been knocked down once.

The Patriots did finally get pressure on Henne, as rookie linebacker Dont'a Hightower sacked him once in the final frame. In addition, rookie defensive end Chandler Jones was able to break free, yanking Henne back and forcing a lofted interception into the end zone.

But finishing with just three quarterback hits isn't sustainable for the long haul, especially when Jacksonville is able to throw the ball 51 times. According to a tweet from Patriots Football Weekly's Andy Hart, the Jags have allowed at least one sack in every game dating back to 2010.

That streak nearly snapped versus New England.

Winner: Marquice Cole

With cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Alfonzo Dennard hampered by injuries, Marquice Cole was called upon to step up Sunday.

He did just that.

The veteran special-teamer and dime cornerback filtered into the slot. From there, he made several tremendous stops in the running game, notching six tackles and two for a loss.

Although, his most notable contribution came while defending the pass: an interception. The pick was Cole's first since he was a member of the New York Jets in 2010.

Winner: Patrick Chung

Last week against the San Francisco 49ers, Patrick Chung played just 19 of 67 snaps, according to ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss.

This week, however, it was a different story for the former second-round draft pick. Devin McCourty temporarily migrated back to cornerback for injury reasons, and Patrick Chung saw steady work at safety.

By game's end, Chung totaled four tackles, as well as two interceptions returned for 27 yards.

Still, Chung's helmet-to-helmet contact on defenseless Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts was a dangerous and boneheaded play. Shorts was assisted off the field by trainers and the Patriots were assessed a 15-yard penalty.

Chung made some great plays, but leading with his head was far too reminiscent of ex-Patriot Brandon Meriweather.

Loser: Aaron Hernandez

According to ESPN.com statistics, Hernandez's output against the Jaguars is his lowest since his ankle injury in Week 2.

Despite being targeted five times, Hernandez finished Sunday's game with one catch for 13 yards. That's not exactly the type of production the Patriots have come to expect from their speedy tight end.

His performance was even overshadowed by the unheralded Michael Hoomanawanui. The backup blocking tight end came down with two receptions for 46 yards. He was efficient too, catching the only two passes thrown his way.

Winner: Wes Welker

Wes Welker was on the receiving end of 10 completions Sunday. And by reaching double digits, he now stands alone, according to a tweet from ESPN Stats & Information:

"

Wes Welker: 18th career game with 10 receptions (breaks tie with Jerry Rice and Andre Johnson for most in NFL history)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 23, 2012

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The feisty slot receiver totaled 88 receiving yards for a touchdown and even carried the ball out of the backfield once for nine yards.

For Welker, it was just another day at the office. Yet passing the likes of Jerry Rice and Andre Johnson in 10-catch games is a remarkable accomplishment.